A very old stray {The Old Fella Story}

[Dixie_Flyer]

Went camping this weekend at a campground on the lake, had not been there for a few years. Once there I began to walk around looking at the different sites when I noticed a very old dog. He just lay there until I got too close then he got up on three legs and hobbled away. Just judging I would say he is at least 11 years old. Well back to my story. The next afternoon he wanders into camp and just sits there looking. He looked so sad, so the wife got a bowl of our dog's food and put it down for him and he came over and ate. He then walked over to our dog and the two of them sniffed each other over and then they lay down together for the rest of the afternoon. That night he disappeared.
The next morning he was back and was a little more receptive of me. I looked at his injured leg and found that half of his rear foot was gone. It had healed and was not causing any problem except that he was walking on the stub that was left with no foot pad which causes him to limp. His front teeth were gone except for one canine tooth and it looked decayed. His eyes were tired looking and showing his age. He spent the rest of the day just laying around looking for a handout and by afternoon the campground host came around and saw him. I enquired about the dog and was told he had been there for three years and that most of the campers were tolerant of him and gave him food.
So what to do? Do you pick him up and bring him home or do you let nature take it course. He can't harm anyone, he has no teeth and he isn't a nuisance unless you don't like dogs, and no one seems to mind him being there. He is gentle and likes other animals as seen by his interaction with our dog. He still would not let me touch him but he would eat from my hand. Enough said, what would you do???

On June 28th 2008 Old Fella passed away of complications caused by bone cancer. Fella spent almost three years with his new family and became the icon of rescued old stray dogs. He will be greatly missed but his foot prints have been left in our hearts forever.

Now Charlie, the ten year old rescued Golden Lab has come to be a part of the continuing Old Fella story. (*Note, Charlie took his journey to Rainbow Bridge unexpectedly September 30, 2008)Suzie continues to charm her way into our hearts with her antics as she has grown from a puppy into a young lady. Togther they will carry on the Old Fella legacy. Come join us in their daily lives and be a part of the best feel good thread in RV.NET history. The legacy lives on.


HIghways Article Puppy Love

Old Fella Burke County Animal Rescue

[dogdiva]

Hope you are doing better, ALl the stress with the eye cant be helping any
Prayers are coming your way

[Dixie_Flyer]

Good morning everyone. I don't know what is going on with me but I am having dizzy spells with spots in front of my eye along with blurred vision. I guess a call to the doctor is in order.

[Dashonthedash]

I know how you feel about Suzie. Molly is so absolutely devoted to me that I couldn't imagine what life would have been like if Carol hadn't posted that picture on this thread, and I hadn't decided to rescue her. Molly jumps all over me when I return, whether I'm gone for an hour or a week. Last night, I had to sleep in the "guest" room because I had to let my waterbed dry from a leak. I moved a couple of the dog beds, but the room is too small for all the dogs. I put one dog bed at the foot of the bed (Lily took that immediately) and squeezed another on the side. Guess who was sleeping next to me when I woke up?

[Dixie_Flyer]

I have always been told, "If its not broke don't fix it." Well when I went to the doctor for a follow up on the eye, he didn't like the way it had settled in. So he talked me into an adjustment to the shell by adding some to it so the eye lid would open more. The adjustment has given me misery. The real eye behind the shell is being pressured and it is painful as well as watering all the time. I guess I will have to go back to have it worked on again. I was comfortable with the shell and had become completely satisfied with the way it fit and looked, now it is uncomfortable.

The girls are all doing well. This morning Suzie was sitting at my feet as I ate breakfast watching every bite as if something was going to fall from the table and she was going to catch it before it hit the floor. I look at that sweet face and wonder what would have happened to her if she and her sisters had not been rescued six years ago from the dumpster out in the county. Most likely she wouldn't be alive today having had a short horrible life. I have never had a pet so full of life as she is. What a joy she has been and continues to be.

[Hoops]

amazing story and God Bless those people.

[Dixie_Flyer]

Simply amazing...

[campingshadow]

This is really neat. Note how exceptionally clean everything is.

22 dogs in one house!!!!!

A chance for Bliss

[whimstock]

ETexan wrote:
Depends on what town you live in in Texas. I live in a town that still requires a yearly shot.

In El Paso, the actual shot is required every 3 years...but you get a new tag from the vet each year.

[Dashonthedash]

I know, I was there. I had 2 tickets and no one wanted to go with me and I couldn't sell the tickets online. Oh well, their loss. So I had an extra seat next to me and I let a pair of Steeler fans from Arkansas use it for their coats. My good deed for the day :B

[Martyn]

Dixie Flyer wrote:
By the way, Gary the Broncos made a statement yesterday.

Yaaaaaay! :B

[Dixie_Flyer]

Good morning everyone. We have had lots of rain in the past few days. This morning starting about five we had a very hard down pour for about an hour. The girls wanted to go outside early but soon changed their mind when they saw it was raining. Izzie ran past me to get out but soon changed his mind also.

I don't have much to do today so I guess I will just take it easy, nothing new for me... In the back ground the television is bringing back the fifties and what was going on in America during that period. That was a good time to be growing up, the best of times I think.

I remember how much hunting dogs were a part of our lives back then. Hunting Quail, or Bob Whites as they were sometimes called was a popular sport. I remember my Dad and I hunting on the farm and enjoying watching the dogs work and do their thing. He was big on English Pointers and Setters. I broke the family tradition with a Brittney Spaniel. He was the best bird dog I ever had. He was so much fun to hunt with and he was also the family pet as well. This was a first for me as the other hunting dogs I had were just working dogs and not consider pets. I wish I had been able to preserve that part of my life for my children, but as I grew in age other priorities took the place of the sport I loved so much. Robin, my oldest daughter remembers some of the adventures of hunting that I included her in and recalls the excitement of watching the dogs work the fields.

Okay, enough of reminiscing about the past and time to get ready to face the day. By the way, Gary the Broncos made a statement yesterday.

[ETexan]

Depends on what town you live in in Texas. I live in a town that still requires a yearly shot.

[Dashonthedash]

Many vets, including my own, now want to see older dogs twice a year, Personally, I don't see the necessity for a dog that's 7 or 8, unless there are specific concerns, but a 12-year-old can get so many issues so suddenly, it's not a bad idea.

[Code2High]

They really aren't supposed to be getting "yearly shots" any longer, unless you live in one of the backward states that require rabies every year. The other vaccines are at three year intervals now except bordatella, and you don't board them so you really don't need that. However, if they are on meds (heartworm, pain) they will have to have an exam once a year and for pain meds, blood tests are appropriate. Dogs can be on heartworm meds and still manage to get heartworms, so there is some reason for testing annually on that. A good exam is also a good idea, including a discussion of how much each one weighs and should weigh, and a look at their teeth and eyes and what their heart sounds like, so you know what's going on as they age.

Remember that dogs age at about five times the rate that people do, so an "annual" exam is like having one every five years. It really isn't a lot.

[Dixie_Flyer]

Good morning everyone. This morning I fixed breakfast for the wife, I should do this more often. The girls were dumb founded as they watched me stir about at the stove preparing French toast with all the trimings. They got a share after it was done and now resting waiting for me to take them for a walk.

Saturday morning I have a date with the twin daughters, Ava and Allison to see the movie "We Bought a Zoo." I enjoy it when we can get together just the two of us and do something. Sue and I spent last night taking down Christmas decorations, there is much more to do. The tree is going to be a little tough on us getting it out the door and into the back yard as it weighs a ton. Once in the yard I can hook it up to the lawn mower and drag it to the trash pile and later when it is good and dried out burn it, seems like such a waste. It was a beautiful tree, perhaps the best one we have ever had. Now it has become trash to be discarded.

I went to our vet yesterday to inquire about getting the fur gang their yearly shots, I was shocked! At first they wanted $225.00 each. This included a blood test for heart worms and other test to insure they were in good health before giving the shots. When I balked they lowered the price to $122.00 for Mama and Peaches and $107.00 each for Suzie and Hobo. It seems the ones over seven years old get different treatment than those under seven. I called Dr. Ford's office in Waynesboro and they quoted me a price of $65.00 each which included all of their health shots and rabies shot. I will be taking them to Waynesboro next month when we go for Robin's wedding.

The rally is set for next June for those who are interested and it seems like a nice campground. Hope to see many of you there when the time comes.